mapledr1216
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posted on March 14, 2001 02:16:24 PM new
I mentioned quite awhile ago on the Cat Lovers thread that we had a stray cat that I was hoping to convert to an all indoor cat.
I recently took the stray, Pepper, to the vet's to have him neutered. He is about 2 years old. While at the vet's, we discovered he is FIV positive, so it's more important than ever that I convert him into an all-indoor cat.
After the surgery, Pepper stayed at the vet's for several days while we were out of town. They said he did fine while he was there. He used the litter box without any problems and was very well behaved.
I've had him home for several hours and all he's done is walk back and forth from the front door to the side door crying to go outside.
I'm terrified he won't adjust to being inside (I'm a big worrier!). I have two litter boxes set up for him (one upstairs and one downstairs), and I'm just praying he'll actually use them.
Can any of you fellow cat lovers give me advice on helping Pepper adjust to life inside? Please? I just have this feeling it's not going to go smoothly! 
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mivona
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posted on March 14, 2001 02:28:13 PM new
Can you find some of his/some other cat's droppings? I had a feral kitten cat once that we took in, and he didn't have a CLUE about what the litter box was for until I went and got some excreta from outside and put it in the litter.
He was so FAT, needing to go, and it was honestly almost like a look of relief that passed over his face, and he leapt into the box and instantly, IMMEDIATELY used it.
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saabsister
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posted on March 14, 2001 04:06:43 PM new
When I brought two strays inside to become permanent house pets, I confined them to my studio. I had two other cats and my vet said that the strays needed to be isolated from my original cats for 90 days. I had louvered doors on the studio so they had a general idea that there were other cats in the house without direct contact between the two sets.They and their litter boxes were confined to a 15' x 15' space. If your cat doesn't already know the layout of your house, maybe you can confine it to a smaller area for a while (not as long as I had to). If you play with the cat enough and it has plenty of toys maybe it'll burn up some energy and not want to go outside as badly.Then expand its territory.
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december3
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posted on March 14, 2001 05:01:17 PM new
Wish I could help, but we found ours living out of a dumpster, got her shots, had her spayed and you can't make her go outside.
She will lounge in the screen house by the pool in my best lawn chair, but that's it.
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toke
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posted on March 14, 2001 05:12:34 PM new
I'm sorry...it's hard. Just don't give in. Period. Ever.
It just takes time. They all love to go outside...just remember...you're saving his life. Every time he makes you feel guilty and rotten...remember...he won't get hit by a car today. He won't get distemper. He won't get rabies. He won't get fleas.
He WILL get your love and care.
Good trade, huh?
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toke
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posted on March 14, 2001 05:21:46 PM new
I'm sorry...that wasn't an answer to your question...
I think Mivona has it exactly right. If he doesn't use the box...grab his mistake and put it right into your box. Wash the heck out of wherever he goofed with a lot of vinegar and water. Scent is the key to where they go...they always go back to the scent of their last leavings. Fix it so he can never find his mistakes!
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equestrian
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posted on March 14, 2001 05:22:53 PM new
toke:
I agree totally! I am so upset when I see the number of cats that go missing in my area, lost cat signs all over, and I can only imagine their fate! Very seldom if ever are any found again.
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toke
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posted on March 14, 2001 05:41:29 PM new
Yeah, equestrian. Sad, isn't it? I don't understand the thinking. Everyone seems to agree that dogs shouldn't run...they might get run over. Some of the same people say that cats need their freedom.
What? They're suddenly immune from traffic? Drivers can see their small bodies...yet can't see dogs?
No logic there. Convenience, maybe...but not logic. Cats will give you holy hell till they get what they want. I just figure I'm bigger, smarter, and right. Heh.
My Ollie is going on 17...
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december3
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posted on March 14, 2001 06:00:03 PM new
I'm bigger, for sure, but sometimes I'm not so sure about the smarter.
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toke
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posted on March 14, 2001 06:11:52 PM new
LOL december3...
My Ollie was listening...I needed to fake him out...
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mapledr1216
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posted on March 14, 2001 06:20:10 PM new
Thanks everyone!
The good news is Pepper did use his litter box this evening!
But, other than about a 10 minute nap, he has spent the past 6 hours pacing from the front door to the side door. He will adjust eventually, right?!?
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toke
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posted on March 14, 2001 06:30:02 PM new
Yes he will...but, it'll take a long time. You'll really have to be careful when you go in and out the doors. He'll do his best to whiz out..... He doesn't even know you yet...right? He has a lot of trust to learn.
I've done what you're doing...took about a year and a half...and I still had to be watchful at the doors......
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zilvy
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posted on March 14, 2001 09:15:49 PM new
Hi Maple Now that he has used his box he will return to it...just be sure to keep it fresh for him. I might suggest that like a child, if you can distract him, even for a bit with a toy, I use a peacock feather or a string with cellophane tied in it. Initially with our feral cat....I got all the excercise and he thought I was a doofus, BUT..now he really looks forward to a few minutes at a time of "Hunting" Good luck.
I just remembered another great distraction and good excercise was a ping pong ball in the tub...you should see the crazy antics if you can get him interested initially. Some cats are natural born retrievers, I used to wad up cellophane (from my cigarette pack) and throw it...he would run after it bat it around and then bring it and drop it at my feet to continue the play. He also loved chasing flashlight beams...just don't let him look directly at the light..zig zag across the floor and behind him.
[ edited by zilvy on Mar 14, 2001 09:19 PM ]
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mouseslayer
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posted on March 14, 2001 10:26:52 PM new
Good ideas from everyone as usual! I just want to reinforce that you have to be stronger then the cat mind (tough I know!) mapledr1216. And, if you give in even once, you'll have to start all over again. Yes, he will get used to it and will learn to love staying inside where it's warm and safe.
My former alley cats are the last ones to be interested in going out the door now. It's the ones who've never been out that get curious. We'll take the girls out, in our arms, here and there to let them sniff or scratch the bark of a tree. That seems to satisfy them for a time. Charlie especially asks for us to take her outside. If we ignore her, then she'll try the sneak escape. But she never gets far! Part of that is because the dog, Gunther, knows she's not supposed to be out and will corral her until we pick her up. Part of it is because she knows she's not supposed to be out alone either. She mostly does this to my mom who is rather slow coming and going through a door (smart cat, knows who the easy target is...)
Good luck and keep us updated, please!?
~^~  Hippy wannabe  ~^~
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ontheradio
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posted on March 15, 2001 06:20:22 PM new
For any pee or poop spots not in the litter box, use Simple Solution. It gets rid of the odor and eliminates any stain. It's great stuff. Clumping style litter is better than non-clumping. Cleaning the box is a snap with clumping litter.
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Zazzie
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posted on March 15, 2001 06:25:02 PM new
He's probably still being ruled by his hormones---he may smell a female cat nearby.
Get him a stuffed animal (cat size) and liberally smell it up with catnip. He may just cuddle up with it and become buddies---but he may decide to become intimate with it (as far he remembers everything still works)
or maybe he'll think it's somebody he''s got to beat up
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malady
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posted on March 15, 2001 08:33:02 PM new
I have 2 cats. One use to be an outdoor cat and one has always been indoors. Now they are both indoors only. I found that if I put a table in front of the livingroom window and a bird feeder hanging outside the window the 2 cats sit on the table and watch the birds for hours. Keeps them away from the doors and possible "excape". One doesn't know how to meow but tries to make that "clicky" sound that cats do when they get excited over birds. Makes me laugh everytime.
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mrssantaclaus
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posted on March 15, 2001 08:37:42 PM new
You could get a fish tank - it makes for a wonderful "kitty TV"! Just be careful - I caught by kitty fishing! (No wonder I could never keep fish in that doggone tank!)
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zilvy
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posted on March 15, 2001 08:41:37 PM new
MsClaws ooops MsClaus did it look something like this?
[ edited by zilvy on Mar 15, 2001 08:42 PM ]
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zilvy
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posted on March 16, 2001 10:25:15 PM new
Hi Maple It has been a couple of days since you started this post, is your kitty beginning to accept his new domain?? Let's here what is happening.
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mapledr1216
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posted on March 17, 2001 07:14:01 AM new
Thanks for asking about Pepper.
He continues to pace from door to door, but he's doing great with the litter box so that's a relief.
I do have a window perch for him and he spends some time watching the great outdoors from there.
I need to work on learning what kind of toys might interest him to help keep him occupied.
I'll keep you updated!
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equestrian
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posted on March 17, 2001 07:24:10 AM new
Maple:
Thanks for posting the pictures! What a lovely boy..I love those nice fat jowls! He looks like he has a neat muscular build too!
Our cat loves a toy we made by tying a few feathers together and putting it on the end of a long string - we both get a lot of excercise, me pulling it and running and him scampering after it!
[ edited by equestrian on Mar 17, 2001 07:25 AM ]
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mybiddness
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posted on March 17, 2001 07:57:24 AM new
Pepper is such a cutie! I admire your work to keep him indoors. We found a cat toy at Wal-Mart that is a large round disc with a ball in a groove that our cat loves to bat around. The center of the disc has a type of corrugated board that's perfect for scratching and has cat-nip in the grooves to hold her attention. It's been a real treat for our cat and it was only about $10.00.
Good luck to you.
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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saabsister
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posted on March 17, 2001 09:47:32 AM new
Maple
Pepper is a nice looking cat. My cats are entertained by a feather on a string, pingpong balls, tightly crumpled paper, and catnip toys. If you have enough sun for catnip, you might try growing some this summer. Then he can have fresh catnip in the summer and you can stuff a simple fabric square with the dried catnip later. I harvested my catnip last fall and after drying it, I put it in a large coffee can and then put the cats' toys in the can for a few days to freshen up the smell.
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